Farmhaus offers a creative and well-priced list

The ever-expanding list of new restaurants in our town continues to impress me, and Farmhaus was no exception. Not only is the restaurant’s commitment to farmers obvious, but Farmhaus’ locavore approach also extends to the wine and beer list. Made up of about 60 wines, including by 16 the glass, the wine list is almost evenly divided between reds and whites. Value is certainly one of the prime features of the selection, with most wines in the $30 to $40 range. Like the menu, which changes frequently, the wine list changes every few weeks; as a result, diners might not find the selections that I did during my visits. But guests at Farmhaus can be sure they’ll be offered a creative, well-priced and interesting list of wines to add to the dining experience. On my visits, the 16 wines by the glass were primarily new world selections chosen with food compatibility in mind. And while the price points – all at either $7 or $8 – were great, I would have liked a bit wider selection. Having said that, two of my personal favorite wines for starting a meal were listed: dry rosé and sparkling wine by the glass. Both were a great way to start an excursion through the Farmhaus menu. Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2009 from South Africa is a delicious, flavorful, dry pink wine, and the bubbly was a Bertrand Cremant de Limoux from France. Traminette is one of my favorite Missouri white varieties, and the Chaumette 2008 from the Ste. Genevieve area was a fantastic complement to the blackened mahi mahi. The grape’s Gewurztraminer parentage perfectly matched the spicy andouille flavor of the dish. I find Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz to be impressive – a really memorable and creative wine. It’s a full-bodied red with significant residual sugar, perfect for those who don’t want a dry wine but also great as “chill-able” (though it’s not served chilled at Farmhaus) red to go with spicy meat dishes. I taste a lot new wines every month, and I am always excited to see something really distinctive. The Claverach Winery, located near Eureka, has a wine named, simply, Green. Because it’s a blend of 70 percent Seyval Blanc and 30 percent Marsanne, I was cautioned when I ordered it that it might be a bit tart. Tart it was, but with the freshness and crispness reminiscent of the delicious Vinho Verde whites of Portugal. Dessert was not in my plan, but my weakness for peanut butter forced me to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, which was enhanced by the deliciousness of the Augusta Port, made just a few miles west of where I was enjoying its affinity with both the peanut butter and the chocolate. About half of the 20 beers available at Farmhaus are locally made, offering a very wide range of styles to please nearly any lover of better brews. I am embarrassed to admit that I took the bait and bit on the “Miller High Life, served at 30 degrees” for $2. It has probably been 30 years since I had a Miller, but I couldn’t resist after seeing on the menu – now I know why it has been 30 years. Thankfully, a beautiful Schlafly Raspberry Hefeweizen cleansed my palate. The perfect ending. To read Michael Renner’s take on Farmhaus’ fare, visit the Gourmet Guru in the reviews section.